Mobile home anchor

ABSTRACT

This disclosure describes an improved earth anchor for anchoring mobile homes. It comprises a shank carrying at its lower end two semi-conical shaped flukes which are loosely attached to the shank so that they can move radially outward from the shank with means to limit the outward motion. Means are provided for holding the two flukes in opposing radial positions with respect to the shank.

1 Unlted States Patent 1 1 1111 3,866,368

Toops 1 Feb. 18, 1975 [54] MOBILE HOME ANCHOR 2.703.544 3/1955 Ewing 114/208 R 1 1 Inventor: Benny hops, BOX 2211, 33111183? 111323 1331:5311: 114/218 A Tulsa, Okla. 74101 Filedi p 18, 1974 Primary Examiner.l0hn E. Murtagh [21] Appl. No.: 461,844 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Head & Johnson [52 US. (:1. 52/162 1 1 ABSTRACT Int. 1 1 disclosure describes an proved earth anchor Fleld 0f Search 156, l62l64, for anchoring mobile homes. It Comprises a Shank can 114/208 208 A rying at its lower end two semi-conical shaped flukes v which are loosely attached to the shank so that they [56] References ("ted can move radially outward from the shank with means UNITED STATES PATENTS to limit the outward motion. Means are provided for 744.421 11/1903 Small holding the two flukes in opposing radial positions 912,018 2/1909 McNutt .7 with respect to the shank. 945,269 1/1910 Fuchs 1,376,854 5/1921 Bearse 52/155 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MOBILE HOME ANCHOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention lies in the field of anchoring devices. More specifically it is concerned with earth anchor means for use with mobile homes and other structures.

In the prior art there are numerous types of anchoring devices including conical surfaced blocks which are adapted on an upward pull to expand shoes outwardly against the wall of a hole drilled or cut into the earth. There are also anchors with various types of flukes attached thereto, none of which have the advantages of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention to provide an earth anchor suitable for anchoring structures such as mobile homes, etc. It is a further object of this invention to provide an anchor which can be lowered into a hole bored into the earth, of a minimum diameter, into which the anchor can be inserted, and having fluke means such that when an upward pull is provided on the shank the flukes will move outwardly and scoop into the walls of the borehole and securely anchor the device therein.

These and other objects are realized and the limitations of the prior art devices are overcome in this in vention by providing an anchor means having a shank with a head on the bottom and having two flukes which can be inserted over the shank and which will freely slide to the bottom end thereof. The flukes are comprised of substantially truncated conical surfaces, cut along a diametral plane. Each of these semi-conical surfaces are welded at their narrow ends to baseplates. Each baseplate has a hole of a selected shape so that it can be positioned on, and can slide freely along the shank. Means are provided for preventing the relative rotation about the shank, ofthe two flukes, so that they are maintained in a 180 opposing relation with each other. Means are provided to limit the outward movement of the fluke so that they will have a maximum angle suitable for the maximum clamping of the anchor into the earth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects of this invention and a better understanding of the principles and details of the invention will be evident from the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents an overall view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 represents a cross-sectional view through the flukes and the shaft.

FIGS. 3 and 4 represent plan views of the structure from the top, FIG. 3 representing the embodiment of a square shank and FIG. 4 representing the embodiment with a circular shank.

FIG. 5 represents an alternate detail of the flukes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings numeral indicates generally one embodiment of this invention. It comprises a shank 12 of suitable length carrying a foot plate or head 18 at the bottom end, and carrying two flukes 14A and 14B supported to the shank 12 by means of openings 24A and 24B formed in baseplates 20A and 208 respectively, to which the semi-conical surfaces 14A and 14B are welded by means of welds 26A and 26B. The clearance of the openings 24A and 24B is sufficiently large that the flakes will slide freely on the shank 12. However, they are prevented from rotating more than a few degrees relative to each other by the nature of the shank in that it is of square or rectangular cross section. It is important that the two shanks remain in opposite relation to each other, so that the square shank and square holes provide this control.

Additional means such as the U-shaped brackets 22A and 22B are provided to maintain a maximum angle of departure of the flukes from the shank, as the shank is pulled upwardly, and as the flukes dig into the wall of the borehole. As shown in FIG. 2 the footplate 18 can be welded to the shank 12 by means of welds 19, for example. The footplate can be welded perpendicular to the shank, or it can be welded at an angle such that the base 20A of the fluke 14A will rest on the upper surface of the footplate 18.

The U-brackets 22A and 228 can be of thin strip metal, or they can be of circular rods or other shaped strips or rods of metal, that are bent to fit the contour of the shank and are anchored by welding or other fastening means to the surfaces of the flukes. For example, the strips can be perforated near their ends, passed through openings in the flukes and locked by cotter pins.

The upper end of the shank is attached by removable means, not shown, to a bracket 16 to which can be anchored to the structure, such as a mobile home, in order to provide the anchoring feature. The details of the coupling means 16 are not critical and form no part of this invention. Therefore further description of this device is not necessary in view of the information generally known about coupling means.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the shank 12 is shown as being of square or rectangular cross section, and the openings 24A and 248 in the baseplates are of similar crosssectional shape, so that the two flukes 14A and 14B can be positioned in opposition to each other on the shank. Therefore as one tends to dig into the earth the opposite one will also tend to dig into the earth and therefore will provide a balanced resistance to upward movement of the anchor. In FIG. 4 is shown an alternative method of construction in which a circular shank, or rod, is provided. The base shoe 20B is designed to have an edge 21 which bears against the lower edges 15A of the fluke 14A.

This bearing of the edge 21 against the edges ISA provides a means of keeping the two flukes in opposition to each other, irrespective of the kind of shank which is used. Therefore, a circular shank or rod can be provided as the main structure of the anchor. In this case the footplate can be a nut which is threaded onto the rod. In practice the entire assembly can be broken apart, the two flukes removed from the anchor and nested one into the other while the shanks, being simple rods, can be piled together, and so on, to the end that space is conserved for packing, storing and shipping.

Although not shown, the coupling device 16 can likewise be removably fastened to the shank 12 such as by bolts, nuts or other means.

While the brackets 22A, 22B have been shown as rigid parts, it will be clear that they can be flexible cables or chains, attached for example, to rings adapted to slide along said shank. This is shown in FIG. 5, where the chain 32 is welded to the fluke at 36 at one end, and to a ring 34 at its other end, the ring adapted to encircle and slide along the shank 12. The use of flexible means to restrain the flukes will assist in the handling, packing and shipping of these devices.

While the shape of the flukes is described generally as semi conical shaped, they can be of modified, or U-shaped so as to next more readily one Within the other, so as to fit into a smaller diameter bored hole, for example.

Also, while two flukes are shown, it will be clear that more than two can be used at the bottom end of the shank. Also, a second pair like 14A and 14B can be inserted over the shank l2 and positioned 90 to the bottom two, and so on.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components. It is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth herein by way of exemplifying the invention, but the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element or step thereof is entitled.

What is claimed:

1. An earth anchor for anchoring structures such as mobile homes, comprising:

a. elongated shank means including head means at the lower end of said shank means;

b. coupling means at the top end of said shank means;

0. at least two fluke means at the lower end of said shank means supported by said head means;

d. each of said fluke means comprising:

1. base means including an opening adapted to slide along said shank means;

2. truncated semi-conical shaped sheet means attached at its smaller end to said base means so as to form a U-shaped fluke positioned with its base directed outwardly from said shank; and

3. tension means to restrain the outward movement of said shanks; and

e. means to keep said at least two flukes positioned in opposite directions each from the other.

2. The anchor as in claim 1 in which said shank is of rectangular cross section and said openings in said baseplate means are of corresponding shape.

3. The anchor as in claim 1 in which one of said flukes is positioned above the other such that the edge of the base of the upper one presses against the edges of the lower fluke, so as to prevent relative rotation of one fluke with respect to the other.

4. The anchor as in claim 3 in which said openings are round and said shank is circular in cross section.

5. The anchor as in claim 1 including rigid tension means to restrain said flukes.

6. The anchor as in claim 1 including flexible tension means to restrain said flukes. 

1. An earth anchor for anchoring structures such as mobile homes, comprising: a. elongated shank means including head means at the lower end of said shank means; b. coupling means at the top end of said shank means; c. at least two fluke means at the lower end of said shank means supported by said head means; d. each of said fluke means comprising:
 1. base means including an opening adapted to slide along said shank means;
 2. truncated semi-conical shaped sheet means attached at its smaller end to said base means so as to form a U-shaped fluke positioned with its base directed outwardly from said shank; and
 3. tension means to restrain the outward movement of said shanks; and e. means to keep said at least two flukes positioned in opposite directions each from the other.
 2. truncated semi-conical shaped sheet means attached at its smaller end to said base means so as to form a U-shaped fluke positioned with its base directed outwardly from said shank; and
 2. The anchor as in claim 1 in which said shank is of rectangular cross section and said openings in said baseplate means are of corresponding shape.
 3. The anchor as in claim 1 in which one of said flukes is positioned above the other such that the edge of the base of the upper one presses against the edges of the lower fluke, so as to prevent relative rotation of one fluke with respect to the other.
 3. tension means to restrain the outward movement of said shanks; and e. means to keep said at least two flukes positioned in opposite directions each from the other.
 4. The anchor as in claim 3 in which said openings are round and said shank is circular in cross section.
 5. The anchor as in claim 1 including rigid tension means to restrain said flukes.
 6. The anchor as in claim 1 including flexible tension means to restrain said flukes. 